Louis-Philippe de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louis-Philippe de Vaudreuil
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 28 October 1724 Rochefort, France |
| Died | 14 December 1802 (aged 78) Paris, France |
| Allegiance | France |
| Service/ |
French Navy |
| Years of service | 1778-1783 |
| Rank | Admiral, second only to Count de Grasse |
| Unit | Spectre, Triomphant |
| Battles/wars |
|
| Awards | Order of Saint-Louis |
Louis-Philippe de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil (born October 28, 1724 – died December 14, 1802) was an important French Navy officer. He was second-in-command of the French fleet in America. This was during the American Revolutionary War.
Contents
Louis-Philippe de Vaudreuil's Life
Early Life and Family
Louis-Philippe Rigaud de Vaudreuil came from a family with a strong history. Many of his relatives were important leaders or military figures. His grandfather, Philippe de Rigaud de Vaudreuil, and his uncle, Pierre de Rigaud de Vaudreuil, were both governors of New France. His uncle Pierre was the last governor, giving up Montreal to the British in 1760.
Another uncle, Pierre-François de Rigaud, fought alongside Montcalm. This was at the Battle of Oswego. Louis-Philippe's father, also named Louis-Philippe de Rigaud de Vaudreuil, was an admiral in the French Navy. He was a hero at the Second Battle of Cape Finisterre in 1747. He commanded the ship Intrépide.
Louis-Philippe's younger brother, Louis de Rigaud de Vaudreuil, was also a Navy officer. They served together on the Intrépide in 1747. Even though his father was born in Quebec City, Louis-Philippe was likely born in Rochefort, France. His father was in charge of that city at the time.
Vaudreuil started his naval career early. He took part in the Battle of Toulon in 1744. He was serving on the ship Heureux, which his father captained. He became an Ensign in 1746. Then he served on the ship Tigre.
He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1754. He commanded the frigate Fidèle. Later, he commanded the frigate Aréthuse. In 1759, the British captured Aréthuse off the coast of Brittany. Vaudreuil became a prisoner. His ship was then used by the Royal Navy and became famous as "Saucy Arethusa".
Vaudreuil became a Captain in 1765. In 1769, he commanded the ship Hippopotame. He used it to transport troops to the Caribbean islands. In 1779, Vaudreuil and the Duke de Lauzun helped France capture Senegal.
American Revolutionary War
Vaudreuil was sent to America in 1778. This was when France joined the war to help the Americans. His first big fight was the First Battle of Ushant. This battle, near Brest, was a draw between the French and British Navies.
Vaudreuil was on the ship Sceptre during the Battle of the Chesapeake. After a fierce fight, Admiral de Grasse's French fleet and the British fleet drifted apart. De Grasse returned to the Chesapeake Bay. There, he met another French fleet. This combined fleet was much larger than the British fleet. This gave France control of the bay.
Controlling the bay was very important. It stopped the British army, led by Cornwallis, from getting supplies or help. This led to the Siege of Yorktown. Cornwallis's army was forced to surrender.
Vaudreuil also helped by providing soldiers from his ship. These 800 men went to Gloucester Point. They helped defend a peninsula near Yorktown. They fought against the cavalry of Tarleton and defeated them.
In the 1782 Battle of the Saintes, Vaudreuil was praised for saving most of the French ships. This was a very bad defeat for the French. Since Admiral de Grasse was captured, Vaudreuil took command of the entire French fleet in America.
After this, Vaudreuil was on his flagship, Triumphant, in Boston harbor. He was planning to attack the British island of Jamaica. He even welcomed Capt. John Paul Jones, a famous American naval officer. But then, news arrived that the war had ended in early 1783. Vaudreuil then had the important job of bringing the victorious French army, led by Rochambeau, back to France.
French Revolution
During the French Revolution, Vaudreuil showed his loyalty. On the night of October 5-6, 1789, he and other naval officers went into the Palace of Versailles. They wanted to protect the Royal family. In 1791, he moved to London. He returned to Paris in 1800. When he came back, Napoleon gave him a naval pension.
